Navigating Cloverleafs outlet was very simple, and we crossed on rocks, ending up on a huge iceberg of snow, which we climbed up. This was our hardest day, though also the shortest. My family tend to go in over July 4th about every 3 to 4 yrs. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. The trail is wide and a bit rocky as you climb through the heavily-wooded forest. Trailhead: Cathedral Lakes One of the most famous hikes in the world, this classic trek on the John Muir Trail is popular for both its incredible scenery and generally declining elevation. It attracts 775,000 visitors a year with its calm waters, beautiful beaches and desert weather with more than 300 sunny days a year. I hear it can be pretty rough. Cathedral Lake is located in the Wind River Range. Wed left Lander around 2PM (my house was very far away) and got to the trailhead at 4PM. Its quite beautiful and has some huge fish! Mom lazed on a rock, snacking on jerky, while I caught a number of trout with ease! You can learn more about our editorial policies, 11 Backpacking Trips in the U.S. That Should be on Your Bucket List, The 11 Best Hikes in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, 6 Epic Backpacking Routes in Glacier National Park, Montana, Crown Jewels: 14 Majestic Hikes in Glacier National Park, Heres Why Leave No Trace Principles are So Damn Important, 10 Awesome Things to Do in Denver with Kids, Backpacking Without a Stove: How to Go Sin Fuego, 10 Epic Things to Do in Rocky Mountain National Park, 9 Best Yurt Rentals in Montanas Wild & Rugged Big Sky Country, The 8 Best Hikes Near Fort Collins, Colorado, The 10 Best Hikes Near Telluride, Colorado, 12 Extraordinary Cabin Rentals in Colorado. _The Smith Creek Lakes and Cathedral Lake are accessed by either traveling directly east off-trail to Mendarrin Lake from the Lizard Head trail, or by wrapping east and north around the Lizard Head Plateau on trails from the Cirque of the Towers. But day hikes of any reasonable length are hard to come by; the area is known as a backpacker's paradise because few destinations are less than 8 miles from a trailhead. With 130 glaciers, 1,300 alpine lakes, and 30 peaks over 13,000 feet, its no wonder the Winds have made their place on thousands of backpackers bucket lists. USGS Lizard Head Peak. If so, I believe only slightly, for I've done my research based on the authorities on the Wind Rivers. Snow will add another element to route-finding. YellowOvernight hikes, typically 2 nights. To connect with the Fremont Trail, you will have to maneuver through Texas Pass which has been traveled for years but is not a designated trail. We followed the trail past Cook Lake, but it wasnt pretty and I didnt get pictures of the lake itself. The trees were the sort that have annoying branches that stab and rib at you, and post-holing crotch deep did little to improve either of our moods. The Wind River Range Traverse (WRRT) is the finest non-technical alpine backpacking route in the lower 48 states. All in all, its a highly accessible backpackers dream. Im here to serve you, so let me know if this wasnt helpful, or if theres anything I can do to make this better. They were bravely close to the water given the ranger vehicles at the trailhead! It then bolted uptrail. This hike visits numerous lakes in a short number of miles. The views here are straight out of a National Geographic magazine. RV Weight . Related Read:The 11 Best Hikes in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. Its imperative to come prepared with a map and compass or GPS communicator/navigation device when backpacking in the Wind River Range. Youll come across semi-established camp spots that are heavily used by thru-hikers. The strenuous Lizard Head Trail leaves the North Fork Trail in these meadows and climbs nearly 2000 feet to the bare upper slopes of Windy Mountain. Although it gets spotty between Deep Lake and Clear Lake, you can't really get lost; just head north down the granite slabs to the east end of Clear Lake. Continue climbing northeast, and ascend the south slopes of Atlantic Peak (class 2). After that, its all downhill. If traveling lightly and in peak physical condition, it could be possible to do this route in a little over a week. I would love to return to this lake at a later time, because its truly quite gorgeous, though Cloverleaf was nothing to sneeze at, either! Cathedral Peak is a mountain located in the southern Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming. From Coon Lake, you go around the south shore, and walk to a small pond just west of the lake, perched above cliffs. The rest of the route down to Scott Lake is also detailed in Pallister's Book. Three different trailheads form an approximately 9 mile long loop, running by beautiful lakes and scenic alpine vistas- all of which are within a day hike of the Beartooth Highway. From Tarns Camp to the peak of Gannett, you will be climbing for three miles. Dads Lake is accessible from the Big Sandy Trailhead (the same as Cirque of the Towers Trail), and close to the Big Sandy Campground. Even on this popular trail, finding solitude among the peaks is easy. I have crafted this route to be the boldest and most challenging trek ever proposed in the Wind Rivers. Lonesome Lake was the first lake in the Wind Rivers to be deemed unsafe for drinking, and camping is strictly prohibited within 1/4 mile of the lake. FOR RESERVATIONS CALL: St. Matthew's Episcopal. Date Hiked: November 16, 2019 Getting to the Trailhead Dogs are allowed on National Forest land trails as long as they are on leash. We started off in a bald section and went uphill into a very arid, dusty forest; the uphill climb lasted for a mile and only went up 372 feet, but the day was hot, so we both felt it. From the cabin, simply follow trails for less than a mile, crossing west over the Green River bridge, to the Green River Lakes TH. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. Pond? I plan on taking my little kid with me for her first trips into the Winds this summer. Once on the trail, consider spending the first night at Hobbs Lake or Seneca Lake and progressing on to Island Lake for the second. The Inn at Aspen 11 mi from Cathedral Lake Trailhead $153 per night Apr 12 - Apr 13 8.2/10 Very Good! The Teton Range towers over the valley of Jackson Hole, providing dramatic alpine scenery and drawing millions of visitors to Grand Teton National Park each year. ), Rockhounding Locations in WY, MT; UT. The terrain and elevation of the Wind River Range make backpacking here a challenge, albeit a worthwhile one. In fact, really, all of the lakes here were decent, with Cook and Middle being the least pretty, Id say. Traversing into valleys, along hillsides, and within view of Fremont Peak and its surrounding peaks, this trail is a light introduction to backpacking in the Wind River Range. Trailhead Start: Elkhart Park Land of Falls: Stunning Waterfall Hikes in Oregon, 11 Beautiful Hikes in Washingtons Alpine Lakes Wilderness, 12 Best Hiking Trails Near Scottsdale, Arizona. Trailhead Start: Big Sandy Trailhead . Also, this section is described in Pallister's book. Widely considered the best trail for seeing the wide range of geography and terrain in the range, Titcomb Basin is a 30-mile round-trip trek that offers panoramic views, campsites at alpine lakes and a possible visit to the highest point in the state of Wyoming, Gannett Peak. Bear Lakes, although a short detour, look absolutely gorgeous. Why you should go: This two-day trek will take you deep into the Winds on an easy going, lake filled trail. Wyoming; Wisconsin; West Virginia; Washington; Virginia; Vermont; DIY. A map and compass are necessary while on this trail since route-finding can be difficult over rocks and snow. Enter your email address to subscribe to this the content of this site, some of which, we hear, is worthwhile. Photos (9,667) Directions. A successful woman is one who can find such a man." The WRRT is the culmination of months of personal research of guidebooks, maps, and online reports of the Wind River Range. I also did some fishing, but released the critters as mom said she didnt feel like cleaning and cooking them. Zoom in for full list. After guiding several trips through the Western Slope Desert, Daniell fell in love with climbing desert towers and overnight canoe trips down the Colorado River. mcnerney Administrator Messages 20,633 Reaction score 277 Location Pinedale, WY Aug 25, 2014 #2 Looks like another great trip into the Winds, thanks for sharing. The far end of the lake had one heck of an amazing waterfallactually, it has 3 inlets! Keep following the trail past Poison Lake, and finally to Coon Lake. Generally speaking, backpacking here is best done in the late summer or early fall, when temperatures are warmer and the better portion of the snow has melted from the high altitude terrain. (1), Comments Cathedral Lake sits right outside of Aspen, Colorado, and can only be reached by a strenuous, but breathtakingly beautiful, hike up to its shores. This would add about. Should this affect the validity of this most grand route I have prepared? Here begins the true crux of the route: getting down the Mammoth Glacier to Scott Lake. Lake Info Fishing Forecast Fishing Reports More Discuss ions. Highway 1; Highway 101; Highway 270; Highway 70; . (No lake trout or mackinaw in it). A major contributor to the stunning views is the range's geology. Considering taking on of the Wind River classics? Heres what to know before you get out on the trail: The Wind River Range is home to a variety of wildlife, including elk, deer, bighorn sheep, moose, bald eagles, wolverines and grizzly bears, making it an incredible location for viewing rarely seen animals in their natural habitat. Wyomings Section 13 of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) is a dream walk through the Wind River Range. The end of Summit Lake Trail links up with a few other trails, and sections of the CDT. Cascade Canyon Trail. That lasted for about 400 feet, and we were then forced back into the woods nearing the area between the lakes. The Lake is more accessible and has a reputation for spectacular fishing than its surrounding lakes. Review: Dickinson Park to Smith, Cloverleaf, Cook, Mendarrin, Middle, & Cathedral Lakes, Hiking and Adventure Map (Work in Progress), Day 1, 11 July: Dickinson Park to Cloverleaf Lake, Day 2: Mendarrin Lake and Camp at Cathedral Lake (My day of birth! It was growing into the evening and we still had quite a ways left to go! Fremont Trail will take you back to the Big Sandy Trailhead. Thanks again. Photos (7) Directions. Although, Castle Peak has a class 2 hike all the way to its summit, Cathedral Peak does not. Eight miles into the hike you will come to Arrow Pass a long, arduous section thats all above 10,895 feet. At 8:30, we found ourselves camping closer to the water than Id like, but snowpack in the trees left us no choice. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. Length 9.1 miElevation gain 1,102 ftRoute type Out & back. I will try and see if I can do justice to your pics. You can learn more about our editorial policies here. Sadly, my Thermarest Trail Scout had developed a hole, so my sleep wasnt as luxurious as the previous night! The majority of this land is maintained by the National Forest Service, so National Forest rules and regulations of backpacking and dispersed camping apply. You can find directions easily from guidebooks. Related Read:6 Best Day Hikes in the Wind River Range. The connecting trail that completes the loop on the backside, near Texas Pass, is unmarked as an official trail, despite being well-trod for years, so navigating can occasionally become a bit tricky. Unless any of you are crazy enough to try it with me! Desolation Lake (Lake 11478 on maps) at the head of the basin is said to be spectacular. The Wind River Range offers world renowned fly fishing, and the areas 1,300 alpine lakes means any trail should offer multiple opportunities to cast your line. I saw maybe five people on my way to the Cirque from the Big Sandy Lake (Big Sandy Trailhead to Big Sandy Lake is a different story). This initial climb will get your heart rate going. Back at camp we packed up and headed toward Cathedral Lake. We also stopped for some pictures on the drive out! Our list of the best hikes near Telluride features the best natural attractions in the San Juan mountains, with a mix of moderate afternoon hikes, challenging summits, and all-day backcountry adventures. Great review and photos. The Wind River Range is protected by 750,000 acres of public land in western Wyoming. Heart Lake Trail will connect you to Palmer Lake and Doubletop Trails, and a shorter loop can be made with Trapper Lake Trail as well. You then depart from the trail due northeast, following Blair Creek to the pond at 9590. Started off MUCH worse got much better now is reverting to a seldom used trail. (44 reviews) "All rooms are individually owned. RedLong-duration hikes, typically 5+days. We climbed the granite knob easily and got a nice view of the drainage, but if youre not in the view, you should just stick to the trail. Mom and I wanted to hike some of the reservation trails and didnt have too long to do it, so we picked Cathedral Lake. But what does that really mean? In short, plan to get wet. The lake itself was quite deep and flat-out flooded with the biggest trout that Id seen in Wyomingreally too big for my line! Cathedral Lake Type: Lake Category: body of water Location: Wyoming, Rocky Mountains, United States, North America View on OpenStreetMap Latitude 42.8207 or 42 49' 15" north Longitude Prepare for your next adventure by downloading maps. by Daniell LaFleur Day 3 totals: 7 miles, +817/-1427, 9294 min/9636 avg/9985 max. About a mile from Photographers Point, you will reach Eklund Lake. 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